Government will try to block Hottest 100 move

THE board of the ABC will be asked to reconsider Triple J's decision to move the date of the Hottest 100 away from Australia Day.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield told ABC this morning that the decision was political and was being seen as an attempt to "delegitimise" Australia Day.

"I'll be asking the board of the ABC, who have the ultimate programming and editorial responsibility, to reconsider this," he said.

"The ABC have legislated independence when it comes to programming decisions but as Minister I'm making clear to the ABC my view that they shouldn't mess with Australia Day and they shouldn't mess with the Hottest 100.

"I know that is the view of many of my parliamentary colleagues and it's also a widely held view in the community that the ABC just shouldn't be making political statements."

Triple J has held its music countdown on Australia Day since 1998 although it's not always been held on January 26.

I remember similar LNP outrage when we @triplej decided to change the #Hottest100 from best song of all time to songs released that year. Great to see them so passionately moved by issues concerning youth music

60,000 Triple J listeners were polled about changing the date of their Hottest 100 and the vast majority voted to change it, so Triple J did. It's NOT Mitch Fifield;s decision to make ... ! https://t.co/UjnorYxIdm

Others welcomed the move, pointing out Triple J's decision was a political one.

Great! It’s “Australia Day” not “ABC - JJJ Political Statement Day”. Do they not understand that the taxpayers pay for them and most taxpayers want them to leave Australia Day alone. They’re just promoting divisiveness